Miniature golf course



Sept. 8, 1931. B. D. SMITH MINIATURE GOLF COURSE Filed Sept. 2,1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fatented ept. 8, 1931 PATENT OFFICE BLANCHARD D. SMITH; OF NFAV ORLEANS, LOUISIANA MINIATURE GOLF COURSE Application filed September 2, 1930. Serial No. 479,347.

My invention relates to improvements in game apparatus and more particularly to a miniature golf course.

, An important object. of my invention is the provision of a golf course which is relatively small and which requires only a small space for play. r

Another object of my invention is to provide a golf course which may be varied to '6 produce different conditions of play correspondingto different holes on a golf course.

A further object of my invenion is to pro vide a miniature golf course which may be cliztn'ged, after each hole is played, to provide 1'5" a different hole for play, and so provide a complete golf course in the space required fora single hole. I

A still further object of my invention is the provision ofa miniature golf course which is portable and which may be folded ino a compactunit, when not in use.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a device of this character which is simple in construction and operation, inex- 23' pensive to manufacure, strong and durable.

Other objects and advantages of my inventionwill be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, which 3'5 form a part of this specification, and wherein like characters of reference denote like or corresponding paris throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a plan view of my golf course, Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof, Figure 3 is an elevation showing the folded position of the course,

Figure 1 is a detail sectional View of dialand hole changing mechanism,

the

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a similar View on the line 6 of Fi ure 1, h

Figure 7 is a detail view showing the hiiiged'joining'of the sections, and

Figure 8 is a detail of one of the barriers.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates an elongated rectangular frame having a-bott'om formed from a sheet 11 offiber, metal or the like and having suitable cross-pieces 11. A suitable layer 12 of substantial thi'ck ness is arranged onthe bottom sheet 11 and extends between the frame sections 10. The layer 12 may be formed from celoteX', Wood, or; 5 the like, and the frame 10 may be constructed:

of wood or metal. I g

A. carpet 13 is arranged on top of the layer 1 and forms the playing surface. It is obvious that other materials such as felt or the like may be used in place of the carpet 13.-

The frame 10 and layers 11 and l2'are divided into three major transverse sections connected by two relatively narrow V transverse sections or strips. The section 14,. which is the tee or starting end of the frame, separated from the middle section 15 by the strip or narrow connecting section 16;; The only direct connection between the ad joining sections is the carpet 13 which is pref erably an integral strip and is secured to each section, as shown in Figure 7, thereby forming a flexible or hinged connection between the sections. The portions of the fram'e IO forming the sides ofthe strip 16 are cutaway at'17 to form grooves on the outside edge to receive the adjacent side portions of thesec tions 1 1 and 15 when the sections are folded. The adjacent portions of the sides of the sections 14 and 15 are also cutawayon their inside portions, as at 18,to receive the uncut portions of the frame forming the'section 16. When the section 14 is foldedonto the section 15, the cutaway portions 17 and 18 allow folding and the sect-ion 16 assumes'a vertical position as shown in Figure 3, and is of such length that the adjacent edges of the sections 14 and 15 Contact along-their length.

The section 15 is separated from the end section 19 by means of a strip or connecting. section 20 which, although relatively narrow,- is wider than the section 16 and the parts are arranged exactly as at the joint between the section's 14and 15. In folding, the section 1:4?- is folded upon the middle section 15 and both sections 14 and 15 are then folded upon'the end section 19 as shown in Figure 3. The connecting strip 20 is arranged at right angles-- to the large sections, when folded, and as sec- 1 tions 15 and 19 are separated by section 14 in folded position strip 20 must be wider than strip 16.

The course formed by the frame 10 is divided longitudinally for the major portion of its length by a partition 21 which terminates at points spaced from the ends of the frame. The partition is interrupted at the end of each section and portions 22 thereof which extend across the connecting strips 16 and 20 are arranged out of alignment with the remainder of the partition as shown in Figure 1, to allow folding of the sections.

Each corner of the end section 19 is provided with traps 23 or rough formed by cutting away the layer 12 adjacent the frame 10 and a similar trap 24 is arranged at one corner of the tee section 14.

A tee 25 is arranged in one corner of the section 14 between the partition 21 and the side and end of the frame 10 and the adjoin ing portions of the frame 10 are preferably cutaway to form a continuation of the carpet 13 so as not to interfere with the player making a stroke from the tee.

A cup 26 is arranged adjacent the corner of the section 19 on the same side of the course as the tee 25 and comprises a hole cut into the carpet 13 and layer 12, lined with a metallic cylinder. A similar cup 27 is arranged on the opposite side of the section 19 at a point spaced a substantial distance from the end of the frame 10, and a third cup 28 is arranged in the section 14 at a point on the opposite side of the section from the tee 25 and substantially midway between the partition 21 and frame 10. The term cup is hereinafter used to designate the hole into which the ball is played.

A gate 29 comprises a pair of arms arranged at an angle of 120 from each other and pivoted behind and adjacent the cup 26. Suitable disks 30 are arranged at the ends of the arms of the gate 29 and are adapted to cover the cup 26. A similar gate 31 is pivoted between the cup 27 and partition 21 and is provided with disks 32 or the like adapted to cover the cup 27. The gate 29 has three positions; one with the cup 26 uncovered and the gate arms out of the way to allow playing of the cup 26; one with one of the disks 30 covering the cup; and the last position with the other disk 30 covering the cup 26.

The gate 31 has three positions, the first with one disk 32 covering the cup 27 and the other disk arranged adjacent a short wall 33 secured to the partition 21, thereby blocking cups 27 and 28, the cup 26 being open for play, as seen in Figure 1. In the second position the cup 26 is blocked by the gate 29 and the cup 27 is covered by one of the disks 32, the other disk 32 being arranged adjacent a short wall 34 secured to the frame 10, and the cup 28 being open for play. In the third position the disks 32 are arranged adjacentthe walls 33 and 34 thereby blocking the cup 28 and opening the cup 27 for play, the cup 26 being closed by one of the disks 30.

In addition to the gates 29 and 31 there are three rotatable hazards or barriers which are changed for each hole to be played. A barrier is arranged on the section 14 mid way between the partition 21 and side of the frame and spaced a substantial distance in front of the tee 25. A similar barrier 36 is pivoted to the section 19 adjacent the strip 20 and a barrier 37 is arranged in front of the cup 28 and in proximity to the partition 21. These barriers may have any suitable form, such as fences, houses or the like. They have four positions, two of which are parallel to the partition 21 and two of which are at right angles thereto.

At he end of partition 21 adj acentthe tee a suitable stationary, raised dial 38 is arranged and has a pointer secured to a rotatable disk 39 carried by a shaft 40 which e);- tends through the dial 38. A sprocket 41 is keyed to the lower end of the shaft 40 and the layer 12 has a pocket cut therein to receive this sprocket.

Each of the gates 29 and 31 and the barriers 35, 36 and 37 have their pivot shafts provided with sprockets 42 arranged in pockets in the layer 12. Suitable grooves 43 are cut into the layer 12 below the carpet 13 and connect the various pockets for the sprockets 41 and 42. A suitable chain 44 connects the sprocket 41 with the sprockets 42 and suitable idling gears or pulleys may be used wherever it is necessary to change the direction of the chain. That portion of the chain which passes over the connecting strips 16 and 20 may be formed of flexible wire, indicated at 46 in Figure 1, so as not to inter fere with folding of the sections. In Figure 1 the chain is indicated by dotted lines and the wire is indicated by a dot and dash line. A spring 47 may be arranged in the wire 46 to take up any slack in the chain, and for convenience of illustration this spring is shown in full lines in Figure 1. It is obvious however, that this spring is normally hidden by the carpet 13.

The sprocket 41 has sixty teeth and the dial has ten divisions. As the pointer is moved over one division for each hole to be played, the sprocket will make a tenth of a revolution. The sprockets of the barriers 35, 36 and 37 have twenty-four tooth sprockets and the gates 29 and 31 have eighteen tooth sprockets. As the chain moves over six teeth for each division of the dial, the barriers will. move a quarter of a revolution and the gates will move a third of a revolution.

As the gates have three positions and the barriers four, nine holes can be played with different conditions of play. After the first hole, cup 26, is played from the tee 25, the

pointer is moved to hole number 2 on the dial and cup 28 is played. After cup 27, hole three, has been played, cup 26 is uncovered and played again but due to the four positions of the barriers, the conditions of play for this hole has changed and hole four, therefore, difiers from hole one, although the same cup is used. The same is true of the other cups.

It will be seen, therefore, that nine different holes may be played with three cups arranged in a compact space. WVhen the ninth hole has been played, the pointer is reversed and moved to hole number one on the dial. Suitable pegs 48 are provided on the disk 39 and the pointer may be moved by inserting the putter between the pegs 48 and twisting it without stooping over.

Stationary hazards may be employed such as the rail 49 and pegs 50 which must be played around to reach cup 27. A resilient bumper 51 may be employed for making cer tain types of shots. Only one cup is open at a time and the tee 25 is used for each hole.

It will be seen that I have provided a golf course which may be folded into a compact unit when not in use, and which provides the varying conditions of a nine hole course in a relatively small space for use in the home or in public buildings, clubs, hotels or the like. For public use the pointer may be coin operated.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A golf game comprising a playing board.

divided into three sections having a playing surface thereon, a connecting strip of relatively narrow width hingedly connecting the center section with one of the end sections, and a second connecting strip hingedly connecting the center section with the other end section and having a substantially greater width than said first named connecting section, whereby the sections may be folded upon each other, the connecting strips having a playing surface thereon adapted'to form a continuation of the playing surface of the sections in operative position.

2. Agolf course comprising a tee, a cup, a continuous playing surface between the tee and the cup, barriers arranged between said tee and cup, and means connected to said barriers to change the positions of said barriers in substantially synchronized relation.

3. A golf course comprising a plurality of cups, cup blocking gates arranged adjacent the cups, barriers arranged on said course,

means to change the positions of the cup blocking gates to close or open the cups to play, and means to change the positions of the barriers,

4:. A golf course comprising a. playing surface, a, plurality of cups in said playing sur-- face, gates: movably arranged adjacent said cups and adapted to be moved to block thecups-, barriersmovably arranged on said playing surface and adapted to be moved into various positions, and means. to move said gates and barriers. to produce varying conditions of play.

5; A golf course comprising a playing sur face, a plurality of cupsin said playing surface, gates movably arranged adjacent said. cups and adapted to be moved to block the cups, barriers movably arranged on said playingsurface and adapted to be moved into va-- rious. positions, and means connecting the barriers and gates and adapted to move them simultaneously.

6; A golf coursecomprisinga playing surface, a plurality of cups in said playing surface, gates movab-ly arranged adjacent some of said. cups each gate being adapted to be moved into a number of positions correspondingto the nuanber of cups, all of said positions but one serving to block the adjacent cup, barriers movablyarranged on said, playing surface and adapted to be moved into variouspositions, thegnumber of positions of the barriers being; different than the number of cups, whereby thesame cup may be played over again under different conditions, and means connecting the barriers and gates and adapted to move them simultaneously into their various positions.

7;. A golf course comprising a playing surface, a: plurality of cups therein, gates pivotall-y arranged adjacent some of the cups, barriers pivotally arranged on said playing surface, sprockets arranged at the: pivot points of the barriers and gates, a control sprocket, an endless chain connecting the various sprockets, and means to rotate said control sprocket.

8. A golf course comprising a playing surface, a plurality of cups therein, gates pivotally arranged adjacent some of the cups, barriers pivotally arranged on said playing sur face, sprockets arranged at the pivot points of said barriers and gates and located below the playing surface, a control sprocket, an endless chain connecting said sprockets, and means to rotate said control sprocket a predetermined distance, the number of teeth on said sprockets being such that the rotation of the control sprocket will move the gates into as many different positions as there are cups and will move the barriers into a number of positions different than the number of cups.

9. A golf course comprising a playing surface, a plurality of cups therein, gates pivotally arranged adjacent some of the cups, barriers pivotally arranged on said playing surface, sprockets arranged at the pivot points of the gates and barriers and located below the playing surface, a control sprocket, an endless chain connecting said sprockets, and means to rotate the control sprocket through a predet rmined angle, the number of teeth on said sprockets being such that the rotation of the control sprocket will move the gates into as many positions as there are cups, all of the positions except one of each gate serving to block the adjacent cup, and whereby the barriers will be moved into a number of positions varying from the number of cups.

10. A golf game comprising a frame having a bottom therein, saidframe being divided into sections separated by a connecting strip, and a flexible playing surface secured to the bottom of the frame and serving as a hinged connection between the sections and the connecting strip.

11. A golf course comprising a playing surface, a tee at one end thereof, three cups in said playing surface, gates pivoted adjacent some of said cups, barriers pivoted on said playing surface, sprockets at the pivot points of said gates and barriers, acontrol sprocket arranged adjacent the tee, an endless chain connecting the sprockets, means to rotate said control sprocket to change the positions of the gates and barriers, and means whereby the gates each assume three positions, two of which block the adjacent cup, and whereby the barriers assume more than three positions.

12. A golf course comprising .a frame divided into s actions hingedly connected, cups distributed on said sections, gates pivoted adj accnt some of said cups and adapted to block or open said cups for play, barriers adapted to be moved to impede playing of said cups, and means to simultaneously move said gates and barriers into various positions.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

BLANCHARD D. SMITH. 

